A day trip to Syracuse should include walking through its unique squares, spending time at one or more renowned museums, and indulging in delicious local food. Located an hour and a half east of Rochester, one of the city’s main attractions is its picturesque downtown area, home to a variety of shops, restaurants, museums, and the stunning architecture of historic buildings, including Syracuse City Hall, the Byrne Square building, and the magnificent Art Deco Niagara Mohawk Building.
Visit Clinton Square at Erie Boulevard, where you’ll find a reflecting pool with fountains and where the canal once ran through the heart of Syracuse. It’s the perfect spot to appreciate the city’s early history and begin a Downtown Syracuse self-guided walking tour.
Plan Your Day Trip to Syracuse
Breakfast
As you drive into Syracuse, consider stopping at one of the city’s classic diners, such as B’Ville Diner, The Gem, Stella’s Diner, Mother’s Cupboard, The Market Diner, or Nestico’s Too. If you want something sweet, don’t miss out on Glazed & Confused, a popular spot for handmade doughnuts, or the innovative Rise N Shine Diner, where they transform pancakes into delicious desserts.
Morning
Consider starting your adventure at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, 15 minutes east of Syracuse. This park is known for its turquoise-colored glacial lakes and old-growth forest. The park offers walking trails, clear-bottom tandem kayak rentals, and a swimming beach on Green Lake.
Lunch
Some popular options in or near downtown include Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub, Oh My Darling, and Modern Malt. For a vegan option, check out Strong Hearts, known for its delicious milkshakes. If you’re in the Tipperary Hill neighborhood, visit Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub, which offers a special entrance and other amenities just for leprechauns.
Afternoon
Take time to enjoy some of Syracuse’s exceptional museums. Consider visiting the Everson Museum of Art, which boasts a significant American art and ceramics collection in a building designed by I. M. Pei.
If you’re interested in local history, the Erie Canal Museum features the only surviving weighlock of the seven that once operated on the canal. You’ll find replicas of a canal boat, tavern, general store, and weighmaster’s office.
The Onondaga Historical Museum offers a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits that cover everything from Syracuse China to the area’s role as part of the Underground Railroad.
For an interactive science experience, visit Armory Square’s Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology.
Spend an hour or two at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
On your way to dinner, drive through the intersection of Tompkins Street and Milton Avenue to see the unique traffic light with the green at the top, symbolizing Irish pride and resilience.
Dinner
For a great dining experience that you’ll want to make a reservation for, some of my top picks include Pastabilities, Francesca’s Cucina, Lemon Grass Restaurant, Apizza Regionale, Eden, Funk ’n Waffles, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
Evening
If you’re visiting during the holiday season, take advantage of the ice skating at Clinton Square and Lights on the Lake, a drive-through Christmas lights display at Onondaga Lake Park. Alternatively, you can plan your day trip around a performance at the Landmark Theatre or a Syracuse Orange sports event.
Signature Events
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Early March
Celebrate Irish-American culture with a parade of dancers and musicians, which begins at Clinton Square, travels down South Salina Street, and ends near Salt City Market.
Taste of Syracuse
Early June
The free two-day food festival features over two dozen musical performances on three stages, alongside more than 70 innovative food vendors offering tastings for a fee.
New York State Blues Festival
Mid-June
One of the region’s most significant free blues events, this annual three-day festival celebrates the blues and its rich cultural history. The lineup features a variety of local and national artists.
The Great New York State Fair
Late August
The New York State Fair, established in 1841 and moved to its current location in Syracuse in 1890, is the oldest in the United States. It is also one of the largest, with around one million visitors yearly, and on some days, it attracts over 100,000 people. The fair runs annually, starting on the third or fourth Wednesday of August and ending on Labor Day.
Lights on the Lake
Late November through December
The drive-through holiday light show at Onondaga Lake Park features a two-mile route lined with towering displays, a fantasy forest, vibrant arches, and a magical fairy-tale ending.
Extraordinary Architecture
Look up, look down, look all around!
Be sure to take a close look at Syracuse City Hall. There are fossils embedded in the facade!
Contact Information
Apizza Regionale 260 Genesee St., (315) 802-2607, apizzaregionale.com
B’Ville Diner 18 E. Genesee St., (315) 635-3180, bvillediner.com
Clinton Square 161 Genesee St., (315) 423-0129, syrgov.net
Coleman’s Irish Pub 100 S. Lowell Ave., (315) 476-1933, colemansirishpub.com
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que 246 W. Willow St., (315) 476-4937, dinosaurbarbque.com
Eden 118 E. Genesee St., (315) 991-8408, edencny.com
Erie Canal Museum 318 Erie Blvd. E., (315) 471-0593, eriecanalmuseum.org
Everson Museum of Art 401 Harrison St., (315) 474-6064, everson.org
Francesca’s Cucina 545 N. Salina St., (315) 425-1556, francescas-cucina.com
Funk ’n Waffles 307-13 S. Clinton St., (315) 474-1060, funknwaffles.square.site
The Gem Diner 832 Spencer St., (315) 314-7380, thegemdiner.com
Glazed & Confused 211 N. Clinton St., (315) 214-5544, glazedsyr.com
Green Lakes State Park 7900 Green Lakes Road, Fayetteville, (315) 637-6111, parks.ny.gov
Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub 301 W. Fayette St., (315) 424-1974, kittyhoynes.com
Landmark Theatre 362 S. Salina St., (315) 475-7979, landmarktheatre.org
Lemon Grass Restaurant 113 Walton St., (315) 475-1111, lemongrasscny.com
The Market Diner 2100 Park St., (315) 474-5247, themarketdiner.com
Modern Malt 325 S. Clinton St., (315) 471-6258, eatdrinkmalt.com
Mother’s Cupboard 3709 E. James St., (315) 432-0942
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology 500 S. Franklin St., (315) 425-9068, most.org
Nestico’s Too 4105 W. Genesee St., (315) 487-5864, nesticostoo.net
Oh My Darling 321 S. Salina St., (315) 290-3330, darlingsyr.com
Onondaga Historical Museum 321 Montgomery St., (315) 428-1864, cnyhistory.org
Onondaga Lake Park 106 Lake Drive, (315) 453-6712, onondagacountyparks.com
Pastabilities 311 S. Franklin St., (315) 474-1153, pastabilities.com
Rise N Shine Diner 500 Westcott St., (315) 907-3710, risenshinediner.com
Rosamond Gifford Zoo 1 Conservation Place, (315) 435-8511, rosamondgiffordzoo.org
Stella’s Diner 110 Wolf St., (315) 425-0353, stellasdinersyracuse.com
Strong Hearts 315 Irving Ave., (315) 478-0000, stronghearts315.com
Syracuse Orange Syracuse University, JMA Wireless Dome, 900 Irving Ave., (315) 443-2121, syracuse.edu
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Where are your favorite places to visit in Syracuse?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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